Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Joe looked up from the street and turned around. “Hi there, Susan. What are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to see if you’d heard anything of Terry?” Susan asked, running up to Joe.

Joe shook his head. “I went round his house, but his mum didn’t have much to say. I also wrote him a letter but I didn’t get any reply yet.”

“You have his address?” Susan asked. She dug into her bag and pulled out a pen and a small writing pad. “You’ll have to give it to me.”

“You sure that’s a good idea? He’s probably still mad with you.”

“It wasn’t even my fault, Joe. You know that. It was that Steve. Did you know he even tried to kiss me?”

Joe laughed. “He did? Did you punch him too?”

Susan blushed. “I wish I had. I wasn’t thinking. I just ran away. I never want to see him again.” She opened her notebook. “But you mustn’t tell Terry. He’ll never forgive me.”

Joe dug out a small book from his bag and opened it up. “Here you go,” he said, showing Susan a page. “Terry’s address. At least it was when I got it. As long as they haven’t moved or anything.” He waited while Susan copied the address down before putting the book back in his bag. “And don’t worry, I won’t say anything to Terry. And as for Steve, he’s not even me friend any more. I heard your brother and Steve are the best of mates though. Bloody stupid if you ask me.”

“Brian and Steve? I guess I’m going to have to speak to Brian about that.”

“There’s probably not much you can do, Susan. Brian needs some kind of friend, and Steve is what is available. Sorry.”

Susan shook her head. “It’s okay, Joe. I understand. It’s just that I really miss him. We were getting so close at one point. I don’t know what happened.”

Joe continued walking down the street and away from school. “It had something to do with his trip to Cornwall, from what I can tell. He’s been different ever since then.”

“Actually, I think it was over the Christmas holidays,” Susan replied. “I tried to call him a few times and ask to see him, but he didn’t want to go out. It was really weird. I thought we were getting on so well together.” She continued walking in silence for a while.

“Well, this is where I leave you,” Joe said at last. “You live that way?”

“Yeah,” Susan replied. “I know. I just wish I understood boys better. Miss Bromine said I should just move on and let it be.”

“Miss Bromine?”

“Yeah. She’s in hospital again. I found her in her flat and called the ambulance. But she looks much worse than before. She reckons she picked up some virus or something.”

“Which hospital is she at?” Joe asked, stopping walking to listen to Susan.

“Bottleford General. In Critical Care.”

“Blimey. Sounds bad. Maybe I’ll pay her a visit.” He turned to face Susan one last time. “Gotta go. See you again. Say hi from me.”

“Sure, Joe. Bye. And thanks.” Susan waved at Joe as he turned down the road and walked away.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

There are just a few more days until the release of Xannu - The Portal. I've re-checked the copy, and I think we're just about ready. It's an exciting time for me as I know this is my best book yet. It's a non-stop roller-coaster ride for all the characters, and there are lots of surprise plot twists to be revealed.

For fans of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Narnia Chronicles, the third installment in a thrilling epic fantasy series…

English schoolboy Terry West’s life continues to be a wreck. Ever since his best friend Joe was lost in another land, Terry has continued to pray he would be healed and returned safely. Everything that has happened to date has been his fault. If only he hadn’t given Joe one of his rune coins. Those damn rune coins that transport him to his other world where Terry is the soldier, Teern Truthbringer, tasked with protecting the Xannu. Wars are brewing in the Southern Lands and people from many countries and religions want the Xannu for themselves.

Both Terry’s school-life and private-life are a mess and Terry’s girlfriend, Susan, continues to be everywhere that Terry is. All he wants is a little solitude in order to keep himself together, but everything is conspiring against him.

Back in the Southern Lands, Maria is determined to bring Joe home using whatever kind of magic is available to her. But others are plotting to ensure she fails. In a world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy, everyone has their own personal agenda.

How will Terry balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!

Book 3 of 'The Southern Lands' saga
“To him who is given that destiny, is also given power. Not just a mortal power, but a power over all mankind. A power that will last forever. A power that surpasses all others. Once it is unlocked it will never be tamed. Once it is released it will never be quashed. Once it has struck it will never be quenched.” (The Holy Scriptures of Luux - Tablet II)

Teern sat with his sword across his lap staring at the carving of the winged cobra on the hilt. He smiled to himself as he absentmindedly traced the carving. “This sword has served me well,” he said quietly. He leaned back against the bed and pulled his long ginger braid free from behind his back. “Times have changed much, though. Now I need to get organized and make a plan for us both.” Teern smiled and laid the sword on the bare wooden floor next to him. He leaned back further against the hard wooden bed and closed his eyes.

Teern had been making the most of the relative comforts of the Castle View inn these past few days. At last he felt rested again and ready to carry on with those things that needed his attention. Matthius had left the inn earlier that morning. He had told Teern he was going to the marketplace but Teern knew he was really looking for his sister, Selene. In any case he felt ready to join Matthius in that search now. He had needed the last few days just to recover from the grueling journey they had had traveling through the Broken Mountains. It had been a journey that had cost them dearly. They had lost their horses, lost their friend Trimble over a cliff, and finally lost Selene in The Unforgiving. Thankfully they had found the Pool of Forgiveness and Matthius had been cured of the terrible illness that had afflicted him. Eventually they had reached the city of KA’Samay. Teern smiled, glad that Matthius was his old self once more. It was just unfortunate that he had not been able to protect him more fully. If he had then maybe Matthius would still have the use of both his eyes. But history couldn’t be changed. Even Teern knew that. Even Teern, the soldier that had once been immortal, but who was now just another mortal person. He had fulfilled the major part of his duty. He had sought out and proclaimed Matthius as the Xannu. And for his reward he was now made mortal. He picked up his sword once more. “You are all I have,” he said out loud, wiping the blade with an old cloth. He shivered as a gust of cold winter air forced its way through the open window of his room. Teern stood up and crossed to it, peering through to look outside. Down below he could see the small courtyard of the inn; void except for a few empty barrels and a cart propped up against one of the corners. He couldn’t see the castle. He and Matthius had been given rooms that faced away from the building the inn was named after. Further away Teern could see the empty streets of winter. The few people that were outside were well wrapped and hurrying to their various destinations. The sun was already high in the sky but the blanket of clouds kept its warm rays from reaching the ground. In the distance Teern could hear an argument between an innkeeper and a customer. Someone was already drunk before the day was halfway through.

“Enter,” Teern answered, to the knock on his door a little later. He reached down to grasp the hilt of his sword. The door opened and Matthius came shivering through. He closed the door behind him. Teern got up from the floor and crossed to greet his friend.

“It’s certainly cold out there today,” Matthius said, blowing on his hands to warm them up.

“Shall we go downstairs and warm ourselves by the fire?” Matthius nodded and turned to the door once more. Teern followed. In a couple of minutes they were both sitting next to the fire that burned in the inn’s common room. “Any luck?” Teern asked.

Matthius didn’t look up from the warm cup he was staring into. “None,” he replied. His curly fair hair had grown long, and as he bent down toward his cup, his hair covered his eyes. Teern couldn’t see the patch that covered his empty eye, but only the twine that kept it in place, wrapped around his head.

“We’ll find her.”

Matthius looked up, brushing the hair from his face. “Do you really think so? We have heard nothing of her and we have been here several days already.”

“We will conduct a more thorough search. I feel most rested now and once we have been to visit the King we can spend some of our joint energies on this task. There are still a few days until Maria is due to arrive here. We shouldn’t worry. Selene is a very stubborn girl and a capable fighter. I’m sure she is just resting somewhere getting her strength back.”

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Today I am giving you a little excerpt from my YA fantasy novel, Xannu - The Healing, the second book in The Southern Lands series. I hope you enjoy the excerpt. Jump over to my website or Amazon to pick up your own copy of the book. It's only $2.99Xannu - The Healing

Book 2 of 'The Southern Lands' saga

For fans of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Narnia Chronicles, the first installment in a thrilling epic fantasy series…

Would you wake up in a hot sweat if you lived your night’s dreams as a soldier battling un-earthly creatures, witnessing powerful magic and fighting to save your own life on a daily basis?

English schoolboy Terry West does. Frequently. After digging up some rune coins near a roman road, he has been living in another world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy. There Terry is a soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who has been tasked with finding the Xannu - 'he who will lead the people into deliverance.'

If only it wasn’t real; but it is. Very real. When it all began it was even enjoyable, but now Terry’s life is getting very complicated. Somehow he involved his best friend Joe and although it had seemed a good idea at the time, the consequences had been dire. Then there is Susan, the leggy sister of klutzy school-friend Brian. Why does she keep sending him messages?

Terry is struggling to balance the two lives he leads and every day he is losing his grip on reality just a little bit more. He’s been forced to kill enemies; his companion, the magical woman Maria, is scaring him half to death with her abilities; and his parents are on his back about his school work.

How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!

“My name is Elizabeth Simmons,” she said in a flat voice, sobbing into the microphone. “I’m Joe’s mother.” She paused briefly and tried to regain her composure. “He’s been missing for six weeks.” She stared out blankly at the assembled crowd of reporters. Instinctively her eyes searched him out, but her other son wasn’t among them. “None of us knows where he is. None of us knows what has happened to him.” She fought back another tear and lifted a hand to her face.

The crowd listened in silence to the middle-aged woman as she made her broken-hearted appeal on national TV. She looked much older than her forty-five years suggested; the stress of the last few weeks had clearly taken its toll. Her normally well kept permed hair was covered with a headscarf, and her heavy make-up and bright red lipstick looked hastily applied. Her right hand gripped a still burning, half-smoked, cigarette.

“If there is anyone who has any information on where Joe is, please tell the police.” She paused, looking out once more. Her eyes misted over. “I love my baby, I miss him.” This time she couldn’t stop herself from crying and she wept uncontrollably into the microphone. A woman police constable quickly moved to console her and whispered reassuring words into her ears. The crowd remained silent, staring up at the makeshift platform that had been assembled in the Methodist Church hall. Finally she was ready to continue once more. “If you’re out there watching Joe, please come home. We miss you.” Not able to say anything else, she ran from the platform into a side room where her son and ex-husband were waiting.

“Joe Nathan Simmons went missing from his home in the early hours of October the fifth,” the Detective Sergeant said, taking his place at the microphone and reading from his notes. “At this time we do not know if he was taken against his will, or he simply ran away. We have no leads; no one has come forward with information, and nothing appears to be missing from the home. There have been no sightings of him, and no ransom demands.” The sergeant looked out over the assembly of faces packed into the church hall. “Joe is twelve years old, about five feet three inches tall, with brown eyes. Pictures are available in the press pack. If anyone has any information relating to his disappearance, then please come forward. Somebody somewhere must know something.” The sergeant took a photograph from his pocket and held it up to show the crowd. A few cameras flashed. “Okay. I’ll take questions now…”

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Today I am giving you a little excerpt from my YA fantasy novel, Xannu - The Prophecy, the first book in The Southern Lands series. I hope you enjoy the excerpt. Jump over to my website or Amazon to pick up your own copy of the book. It's only $0.99Xannu - The Prophecy

Book 1 of 'The Southern Lands' saga

For fans of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Narnia Chronicles, the first installment in a thrilling epic fantasy series…

Would you wake up in a hot sweat if you lived your night’s dreams as a soldier battling un-earthly creatures, witnessing powerful magic and fighting to save your own life on a daily basis?

English schoolboy Terry West does. Frequently. After digging up some rune coins near a roman road, he has been living in another world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy. There Terry is a soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who has been tasked with finding the Xannu - 'he who will lead the people into deliverance.'

If only it wasn’t real; but it is. Very real. When it all began it was even enjoyable, but now Terry’s life is getting very complicated. Somehow he involved his best friend Joe and although it had seemed a good idea at the time, the consequences had been dire. Then there is Susan, the leggy sister of klutzy school-friend Brian. Why does she keep sending him messages?

Terry is struggling to balance the two lives he leads and every day he is losing his grip on reality just a little bit more. He’s been forced to kill enemies; his companion, the magical woman Maria, is scaring him half to death with her abilities; and his parents are on his back about his school work.

How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!

CHAPTER 3...“And who’s next?” a man in a brightly colored cloak asked the crowd. “Who is brave enough to take on the champion of champions? Unbeaten in the last four years. Come on, there must be one here brave enough to face Trimble. You sir, how about you?” he asked, directly facing Teern. “You look like a strong lad, a soldier I see. Come on, step right up, two gold marks for the victor.”

Teern looked around him but it was obvious who the man meant. And of course by now the rest of the crowd had taken up his cause too and several were pushing him, encouraging him, to the center of the open area. “Well, I’ve never done this kind of thing before and I think I’m at a disadvantage. This man Trimble is a good foot taller than I and well versed in the staff, that I can see.”

“Don’t be concerned. He won’t hurt you; he’s just a baby. Step right up, come on, what are you waiting for, two gold marks for the victor.” And so it continued. The crowd cheered him on and people started to lay bets on who would win. In the end he didn’t really have a choice, so Teern removed his armor, placed his possessions in the care of one of the officials and stepped into a ring that was marked with a large rope on the ground, and waited at the center of the clearing. The man in the brightly colored cloak quickly explained the particular local rules to Teern, although he had seen these battles of Banwop many times before. Teern was then handed a staff and they were ready to begin.

The first blow to Teern’s side hurt like crazy. “He won’t hurt you,” he repeated sarcastically under his breath. The second blow hurt even more. By the time Teern had taken the first six or seven blows without getting one in return, he was bruised all over and ready to call it quits.

“What’s up soldier? Can’t fight without your sword?” Trimble was starting to mock him, landing another strike to his thigh. “Mummy know you’re out with the big boys, does she?” The crowd laughed out loud. “Grow your hair long to look tough do you?” Again, another blow, this time to the other thigh. The crowd laughed again, enjoying this one-sided competition.

“Winning takes concentration,” Teern muttered to himself, landing his first strike to Trimble’s huge chest. The big man definitely had a look of surprise on his face. “Winning takes focus,” he mumbled again as a huge blow to Trimble’s stomach connected, causing him to visibly stagger backward. “And most importantly, winning takes commitment,” he shouted out as he caught Trimble completely unawares behind the knees, knocking him straight to the ground and enabling him to place his staff to the man’s throat. “My game, I believe. I guess I’m not too old to listen and to learn after all.”

The crowd went wild. Everyone was cheering. Only those that had taken the bets on Trimble looked disappointed. The man with the brightly colored cloak congratulated Teern, gave him his two gold marks, and Teern collected his belongings from the official who was guarding them.

“You fought good young’un,” Trimble said, having pulled himself to his feet and regained his composure. “I thought I had you there. Guess it just goes to show I gotta be more ruthless.” He patted Teern on the back, almost knocking him over with his big hands.

“Well thank you, sir. I enjoyed our little match, although I have to say I think I will be black and blue with bruises for many days to come. It’s good that I can rest on the long walk ahead of me.”

“Where are you off to in such a hurry? Stay and have a meal with me. My treat.”

“I’m on my way to Caipor. It’s a long journey. Best I get started as soon as possible.”

“Caipor?” Trimble asked, “Why, I’d like to go there myself. I’m looking for some new opponents to battle. Do you mind if I walk with you?”

“Mind? No, of course not. I’d be glad of the company,” Teern replied, honestly glad of anyone to walk with him for a while.

“Good, that’s a settled then. But first I insist, let me get you a meal. We both could do with some serious foods after that larkin’ about.”